Number-plate holder for headlights.



G.B.BAKER. NUMBER PLATE HOLDER FOB. HEADLIGHTS.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 12, 1908. 920,714.

Patented May 4, 1909.

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STATES NUMBER-PLATE HOLDER FOR HEADLIGHTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 4, 1909.

Application filed August 12, 1908. Serial No. 448,209.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that l, CLoroE B. BAKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Number- Plate Holders for Headlights, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates particularly to the number plate holder of a locomotive headlight and the like, but is also applicable to the front plate or glass proper thereof, and has for its object to enable the removable part of the holder which is placed against the front or exposed side of the number plate for retaining it in place mithin the fixed part of the holder, to be readily secured to the headlight casing and removed therefrom when desired without the use of bolts, screws, or other fastenings. l

The invention consists in features of novclty as hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drauing forming part of this specification, `whereon,

Figure 1,is a side elevation of a locomotive head-light showing my improved number plate holder applied thereto, Fig. 2, a front view of the head-light showing the holder at each side thereof in end view; Fig. 3, a vertical transverse section to enlarged scale through the outer open portion of one of the side branches of the head-light and the fixed part of the holder on line 3, 3, in Fig. 1, omitting the number plate and removable part of the holder,l F ig. l, a similar view to Fig. 3, with the number plate and removable part of the holder in place, and Figs. 5 and 6, horizontal sections to enlarged scale through the holder and combined part of the head-light casing on line 5, 5, in JFig. 1, with the parts in position corresponding respectively, to Figs. 3 and Like letters and numerals of reference denote like parts in all the figures.

a represents the casing of a locomotive head -light having the usual rectangularshaped side branches or hoods 1 through which the number plates b mounted in the fixed parts of their holders are illuminated, the fixed parts of the holders ordinarily being riveted to or formed in the outer open ends of the hoods 1, and the number plates held in place thereto by an overlapping clamp-plate fixed to the casing thereat by bolts or screws,

thereby causing trouble and delay in removing the plates.

According to my invention the casing or surrounding wall of each branch or hood 1 is preferably formed at its outer open end with an inside flange 1, and through the rectangular-shaped opening thus formed is inserted a corresponding frame c ,rhich is preferably Z shaped in cross section having the outer face of its web 2 adapted to bear against the surrounding edge of the flange 1 and its outer flange 3 against the outer face of the fiange 1 to which it is fixed by preferably, countersunk rivets 4, the outer flange 3 projecting for a suitable distance beyond the top and adjacent upright sides or ends of the casing 1 as shown, and the inner flange 3 forming a rectangular-shaped opening 5.

lllithintho recess G formed in the frame c by its web 2 and inner fiange 3 is inserted the number plate t (usually of glass and semitransparent) which covers the rectangular opening 5 therethrough and bears marginally on the inside against the shoulder formed by the inner liange 8 around the said opening, as seen particularly in Figs. 4 and 6.

For holding the number plate l) at its front or exposed side Within the recess 6 of the frame c, or fixed part of the holder, l preferably use a cover-plate d having a rectangular shaped opening 7 therethrough corresponding to the opening 5 through the frame c, the to p and adjacent upright side or end portions of the cover-plate d at their outer edge portions respectively, having an offset 8 at right angles thereto and a return frange S projecting from the latter parallel and opposite to the cover-plate d, the combined offset and flange 8, 8, in assembling and passing the cover-plate d'downward in front of the nurnber plate t, engaging hookwise over the projecting side edge portions of the outer flange 3 of the frame c, until the top flange 8 engages hookwise over the projecting top portion of the outer flange 3 and the opening 7 vis brought opposite t0 the corresponding opening 5 through the frame c, or so as to overlap the number plate t, whereby the cover-plate (Z is interlocked with and practically secured to the frame c and casing 1, and the number plate held in place Within l the recess 6, or fixed part of the holder, Without bolts or screws; also, by raising and withdrawing the cover-plate d from the frame c, the number plate l) is released and can be quickly removed for cleaning, renewal, or exchange.

I do not limit myself to the rectangular shape of the openings 5 and 7, nor to the Z shape in cross section of the frame c, nor to the preferable means described for interlocking the cover-plate d With the frame c, as these details of construction may obviously be modified Without departing from the principle of my invention.

lWhat l claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A number plate holder for a l'iead-light7 consisting of two parts, one part being `fixed to the casing of the head-light and adapted to inclose the number plate, and the other part adapted to be removably interlocled With the i'iXed part, and the said parts in their assembled position being Aadapted to overlap the marginal portions of the said. plate, substantiallyT as described.

2. ln a number plate holder for a headlight, the combination with the casing ci the head-light having an opening therethrough and a recess in front of the said opening, of a number plate Within the recess adapted to bear marginally against the Wall thereof l around the said opening, a i'lange on the casing around the recess in a parallel plane to the said Wall, and a cover-plate adapted to be removably interlocked with, and slidable against the said flange, in front of, and across the recess, the said cover-plate having an opening therethrough, and adapted thereat to overlap the marginal portion of the front or exposed side of the number plate in the assembled position of the parts, substantially .as described.

3. ln a number plate holder i'or a headlight, the combination with the casing of the head-light, of a frame iixed to, and having an o )ening therethrough into the said casing, and liaving a recess in front of the said opening, a number plate Within the recess adapted to bear marginally against the Wall thereof around the said opening'7 a flange on the frame in a parallel plane to the said Wall, and a cover-plate adapted to be removably interlocked with, and slidable against the said flange, in iront of, and across the recess, the said cover-plate having an opening therethrough and adapted thereat to overlap the marginal portion of the iront or exposed side of the number plate in the assembled position of the parts, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

CLOICE B. BAKER.

lllitnesses 1 E. A. KOLBE, EDWARD W. FURRELL. 

